thread: Australian Baby Hands..have you used it with your LO?

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  1. #1
    Registered User

    Feb 2008
    1,163

    I had great success with baby sign language!

    I found a kit on ebay "baby talk" I think, when DD was about 6 months. I never really got around to it much until about 11 months though. At that time I was just using one or two signs for things we did/used often, (milk and bath) at 12 months, out of the blue, DD saw a friends bottle of milk on the table and made the milk signal to me. It was amazing, and from there we just took off! DD was really keen to use it and would often look at my hands as I said something to learn what the sign was.

    I did not end up using the baby talk resource much, I ended up using the Auslan website for sign suggestions. I found them better as I could look up the word I wanted and I figured that if I was going to use sign language, better to use the one used by most people rather than a baby version IYKWIM. Plus we have a local deaf family and I thought it would be better if we were speaking the same language! Mostly the signs were the same though. The Auslan website has a whole video vocabulary you can look up and watch the signs being demonstrated.

    DD really loved using signs, we loved understanding what she was saying and I found it really helped her language development and decreased frustration as she was easily able to communicate. At the time I took it for granted, but I look back now at some videos we have of her and see how much she used the signals, it is amazing!!!

    Go for it! It is helpful and really fun!

  2. #2
    Registered User

    Apr 2007
    Gold Coast
    1,521

    Definately go for it!

    My parents are deaf so I am fluent in sign language. I taught my DS sign from around 4 months. It wasn't until 12 months that he finally 'got it' (he was premmie so he was 10mths corrected age). It was fantastic to have him tell you what he wanted. If he wanted more dinner, or if he was finished. He still uses some signs now, although he talks very well for his age. I did find that once he started saying words, he preferred to say rather than sign. My sisters DD however was very different. She was signing from around 7 months and continued to learn sign even after she was saying words. Although at this stage it wasn't necessary for her to sign, she sure was a great party trick!

  3. #3
    Registered User

    Mar 2010
    Happy Land
    319

    Thanks for taking the time to reply It's great to hear your positive experiences, I am really looking forward to starting this with DS now.

    I have been looking at the Auslan site tonight, thanks jackrose, it's great!

    Georgi, wow, 7 months, that's great when did your sister start signing to her?

    I was thinking of starting with a couple of signs...more, finished, bed, bath but was wondering, did you wait til bub started signing before you moved on to more?

  4. #4
    Registered User

    May 2009
    343

    Subscribing.. interested to hear peoples experiences. Are you able to post the links? There are a couple of Auslan sites..

  5. #5
    Registered User

    Feb 2008
    1,163

    Glad you are inspired Happy Chick! It is exciting!

    I would personally start with only one or two signs, something that is really meaningful for your DS. For example if he loves his food, use 'more' to encourage him to ask for it and be motivated to use the sign. Same with if he loves a bath... I used 'milk' for our first sign as DD loved the stuff! Once she had that one sign, she was off and racing and I added more signs as quickly as I could learn them!

    Skeetaboat, I am not sure if I can post the link but when I googled auslan, the first link that came up was the one I used. It is the Auslan Signbank. Hope that clarifies! If not I can pm you!

  6. #6
    Registered User

    Jan 2008
    1,413

    I started this with DD when she was 15 months.. she now does it all the time.. start with a few words and add to them every week or so..

    just basics

    MILK
    MORE
    ALL DONE
    BATH
    Please
    etc

    I wish i used this with DS.. bit will with the next bub for sure.

  7. #7
    Registered User

    Jan 2009
    Raby, NSW
    202

    wow im really interested in this!